“I’ve always loved kids. I love that you can help them when they’re younger and maybe make a difference in their future. I know right now there’s a lot of attacks on families, so if a teacher can be there and give some of the love and support a parent can’t give—because they’re working or maybe they’re in a single household family—then they [the children] can feel that and believe at least one person believes that they can keep going and have a future.”

“I am motivated to stay in the education field because there is a desperate need for special educators in our schools. I am motivated to help those with disabilities reach their goals as they obtain an education. I truly hope to be able to make a difference in the lives of my students as they come to school each day. My motivation simply comes from my desire to help others.”

“Connecting with the kids and building relationships with them is what drew me in. I realized that I have the means and capability to serve them and help them along their own journey, and that was something that greatly appealed to me. The McKay School provides their students unique opportunities to be a part of classrooms around local schools, which has really helped me to see how what I am learning in class is applicable to students. Being in the classroom and actually working with kids is what confirmed my decision to major in ECE.”